Metal bending machine



Aug. 3, 1937. w. E, KANE 2 9 74 METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l I I I I //0 a INVENTEIH m M BY Wrrnzss -1 (g l I I 1 I? L ATTuRnEY Aug. 3, 1937. w. E. KANE 2,088,746

ME TAL BENDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q Q\ Q *3? n Y "3 R5 0 w w I I N a s w I k v a Q S a i N w I Mlllllllllllllllllllhl IIIHII Q Q I N\ \l a a I 'k7//// l w )I S V H w 0 a l I Igor q T is ,q 1 1C n 3 I a) Mk I r I I L J I I la :1 fl l W Q) I I I L 5 I I fi I 5 3M qgi 3 o Q f Z "I 5 ,1 I il \IJITIIEEE 1937., w. E. KANE 2,088,746

' METAL BENDING MACHINE w Filed March 23, 19 55 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN E WQMTDR ATTORNEY" MTHEE 5 Aug. 1937. w. E. KANE 2,088,746

METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a F 47.12- o 0 g 64 60 5.9

WITHEE 5 Patented Aug. 3, 1937 warren stares ATENT or ies Application March 23,

27 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in metal bending machines in which a plurality of forming rollers are adapted to have relative movement into and out of cooperative relation with each other.

Insofar as the applicant is aware, metal bending machines having forming rollers adapted to bend straight relatively stiff heavy metal articles suchas strips of sheet iron, angle irons, T bars,

channel bars or the like into circular form have been manually moved relatively to each other to bring them into cooperative relation to effect the forming operation and to. bring them out of cooperative relation with each other to release the formed Work from therebetween and after the formed work has been released by the forming rollers the work has been manually removed from between the rollers.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a metal bending machine of the above mentioned class with simple practical and efficient power means controlled by a slight physical effort for bringing the forming or bending rollers into and out of cooperative relation with each other and to automatically eject the formed work from between the rollers when saidv rollers are in inoperative relation with each other.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide the power means. with safety means controlled by various moving parts of the mechanlsm whereby the movements of the power means for manipulating the rollers and ejecting the formed work must take place in predetermined sequential ordersoas to eliminate the possibility ,of a movement taking place out of order and thereby cause damage to the machine.

Another object of the'invention resides in providing an adjustable feed table particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with my novel power control means.

In certain classes of work when the structure bending operation until the work has reached the required form or contour.

Another object of the invention is to provide 55a metal bending apparatus, with simple means 1935, Serial No. 12,639

adapted to cooperate with the control means, for governing the position of the bending rollers relative to each other to progressively produce relative movement of the rollers toward each other, whereby the bending operation may be performed by a plurality of separate bending operations.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the construction of the apparatus and to the form and relation of the parts thereof will more readily appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in'whichz Figure 1 is a perspective viewiof'a metalbending machine embodying the various features of this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear side elevationpartly broken away and partly in section of the work'ejector mechanism and the adjacent portion of the supporting frame or base. j

Figure 3is adetail transverse sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 3--3.

Figure 2.

Figure 4 is-a detail plan view of the forward or head end portion of the ejector mechanism and illustrating the same in operative relation with a safety control valve.

Figure 5'is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified form of ejector arm.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View with portions'of the base broken away and taken substantially in the plane of the line 66; Figure 9.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail vertical sectional views taken respectively on lines- 1-! and 88, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional View with portions thereof broken away, taken substantially in theplane of the line 99, Figure 6.

Figures 10 and 1 1 are detail sectional views taken respectively on lines I0l0 and ll|l, Figure 9.

Figure 12'is-a side elevation of a portion of my novel roller control apparatus asviewed from line l2l 2-, Figure 6 with portions thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my novel power control apparatus and the associated parts of the metal bending machine.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the bending rollers and the adjacent portion of the feed table in cooperative relation.

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the automatic reversing valves.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an automatic control valve incorporated in the 7 power line leading to the manually operated control valve.

There are several well known types of metal 5 bending machines embodying rollers adapted to engage the metal and feed the same therebetween for bending the metal into circles or arcs thereof.

purposes into an inoperative position in more or less spaced relation to permit the removal of the finished work from the rollers.

In the machine selected to illustrate my invention, there are shown three such bending rollers, I, 2 and 3, arranged in triangular formation and secured to respective horizontally disposed parallel shafts 4, 5 and'6, to be rotated thereby. The rollers 2 and 3 positioned at the base of the triangle are each smaller in this instance in diameter than the other roller I positioned above them at the apex of the triangle.

The shafts 5 and 6 for the lower rollers 2 and 3 are journaled in parallelspaced relation adjacent their ends in a pair of bearing brackets 8 mounted on a. bed plate 9 adjacent respective ends of the rollers 2 and 3, said bed plate being mounted upon the upper end of a base III as shown in' Figures 1, 6 and 9. The shafts 5 and 35 6 are driven in unison from a horizontally disposed drive shaft |2 journaled in the brackets 8 I in a plane beneath the shafts 5 and 6 through the medium of gears l3, l4, and I5 secured respectively to the forward ends of theshafts 5, 6

40 and I2 as illustrated in Figures 6 and 8. The

gears l3, l4 and I5 may, as shown, be mounted in a gear case l6 secured to the bed plate 9.

The drive shaft l2 has the rear end thereof extending some distance beyond the rearmost journaled bracket 8 and has secured thereto a relatively large gear l8 which is in. meshing engagement with a pinion l9 secured in. any well known manner to a clutch shaft 20 which is disposed in a horizontal plane beneath the drive soishaft l2 with one end thereof journaled in the base l0 and the other end journaled in a bracket 2| mounted on an extension l0 of the base Ill.

The shaft 28 is driven from a motor 22 through the medium of .a pair of sprocket gears 23 and 55 24 and a chain belt 25 and a clutch '26. One of the sprockets as 24 is secured by a key or otherwise to an extension or hub 21 provided on one of the clutch elements as 28 which in. turn is rotatably mounted upon'the clutch'shaft 20. The other 0 clutch'element as 29 of the clutch 26 is splined to theshaft;20 as at 38 and is moved axially upon the shaft 28 into and out of frictional engagement with the clutch element 28 by a hand lever 3| pivotally connected at one end to the base In 5 as at 32.

with the clutch element 29 by a link 33 pivotally connected at one end to the lever 3| intermediate the ends thereof and a bifurcated arm 34 pivotally connected to the other end of the link and 70'which is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a fixed portion of the base and has the forked end thereof operatively engaging a peripheral flange 35 associated with the clutch element 29. i The bending roller I positioned at the apex of 75the triangleformation and which is commonly The lever 3| is operatively connected known as the master roller is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 4 which in turn is journaled adjacent the rear end of the roller in the free end' of a rock arm 31 which extends laterally from the shaft 4 toward the back side of the machine and is journaled upon a supporting shaft 38 mounted at its ends in blocks 39 which in turn are slidably mounted for vertical movement in slots 48 provided in vertically disposed brackets 4| mounted on the bed plate 9 as shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 9. The shaft 38 is disposed in substantially the horizontal plane of the shaft 4 when the rollerl is in cooperative relation with the rollers 5 and 6 and the shaft 38 is adjustably maintained in this position by shims 42 mounted in the bracket slot at either side of the block 39 so that if the master roller is changed for another one of different diameter the supporting shaft 39 may be correspondingly raised or lowered to bring the same into the horizontal plane of the shaft 4 when said shaft is in the normal operative position.

The shaft 4 extends outwardly from the forward end of the roller a relatively short dis- I tance and has rotatably mounted thereon a pres sure roller 44 adapted to be engaged by a bearing opposite side thereof from the bearing block 45 and adapted to engage the upper surface of the arm 31 which is provided with a pair of axially spaced substantially flat horizontally disposed bearing surfaces 31' as shown in Figures 6 and 9.'

The master roller is rotated by the drive shaft |2 at substantially the same peripheral surface 4 speed as the lower rollers 2 and 3 by a gear.

49 mounted on the rear end of the shaft 4, a gear 50 mounted on the drive shaft |2 adjacent the rear face of the rear bracket 8 and an idler gear 5| mounted on a stud 52 secured ina boss 53 provided on the rear bracket 8 as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The idler gear 5| is rotatably mounted upon an eccentricbushing 54 which in turn is adjustably secured in the boss 53 in any suitable -manner to permit said bushing to be rotated relatively to the boss whereby the gear 5| may be adjusted relatively to the gears 49 V and 50.

The mechanism thus far described is of conventional construction and is operated in the usual manner to bend metal pieces into circles or arcs thereof; that is, the bending rollers I,

2 and 3 are driven at the same peripheral surface speed by the motor 22 through the mechanism described including the manually controlled clutch 26. The lower rollers 2 and 3'are journaled on the bed plate 9 in fixed operative relation therewith and the upper or master roller is journaled on the swinging arm or frame 31 for movement toward and from the lower rollers. The master roller is releasably maintained in predetermined relation to the lower rollers during the bending operation by the engagement of the pressure head or frame 46 with the pressure roller 44 and surfaces 31' of the arm 31.

The pressure head 46 has heretofore in the conventionally constructed machines been moved into and out of operative pressure engagement with the master roller by manually controlled lever means which were connected with the ure 9.

outer ends of laterally disposed arms 46 provided.

over the pressure roller 44 to make way for the next piece of work.

The mechanism shown in the drawings for moving the master roller into and out of cooperative relation with the lower rollers and for automatically ejecting the finished work from the master roller and which comprises the subject matter of this invention will now be described.

The bed plate 9 is provided'in this instance with a pair of pendant lugs or bosses 56 arranged in longitudinal spaced relation near the front side thereof as shown in Figures 6 and 9; A pair of supporting brackets 57 are arranged within the base I6 in longitudinal spaced relation and have their forward portions secured to a respective boss 56 and the rear portions secured" to the rear side of the bed plate by bolts or their equivalents. These brackets El extend some distance belowthe bed plate 9 in the plane of the rear portion thereof and have mounted therebetween a cylinder 5a which is pivotally connected adjacent the forward end thereof as by the trunnions 60 to the rear portion of said brackets; see Figure 9;

In the cylinder 59 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocated movement a piston 62 which has a piston rod 63 extending forwardly through a suitable stufiing box provided at 64' in theforward end plate 65' of the cylinder. The outer end of the piston rod 63 is positioned in the-slot 66 provided in a rock frame 6'!- and is journaled upon a pin 68" which has the ends thereof mounted in the rock frame at opposite sides of said slot.

The rock frame 6i extends some distance below the pin 68 and has the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the supporting brackets 51 by a shaft 6%.

A pair of rock arms lflis dispose-din substantially a horizontal plane, one adjacent the outside of each of the supporting brackets 51' and said arms have the rear ends thereof pivotally.

connected to a respective bracket as at N, Fig- The arms extend forwardly from the pivots it to within a relatively short distance of the forward side of the base l6 and are operatively connected with the piston rod 63' by means of a pair of toggle mechanisms 131 7 Each of these toggle mechanisms comprises a pair of vertically disposed links '14 and 14, one of which has the upper end thereof pivotally connected as at (5 to pendant lugs 76 provided at the forward portion of the supporting bracket 51; Each of the other links '54 has the lower end thereof pivotally connected as at 76 to a'respective rock arm '36 a relatively short distance from the forward end of said rock arm and in substantially the vertical plane of the pivot 75. The inner adjacent ends of the links 14 and 14' of each pair are'pivotally connected to each other and to a connecting link 16 by a pin 86. Each connecting link 19 extends rearwardly fromthe pivot 86 at a rear end thereof pivotally connected to a reillustrated by full lines in Figure 9.

spective end of the pin 68 upon which the connecting rod 63 is mounted.

It will thus be seen that the reciprocating movement of the piston 62 and piston rod 63 will produce a corresponding swinging movement of the rock frame 6'? and will also produce rocking movements of the toggle mechanism 73 and arms 10 to move the outer or forward end of said arms upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane. The forward movement of the piston 62 is limited by the engagement thereof with the forward end of the cylinder 59 while the rearward movement of said piston is limited by the engagement thereof with the rear end of the cylinder and in order to absorb some of the shock thereby produced, the cylinder is provided with annular buffer rings 83 composed of leather or similar material, positioned adjacent the inner face of the front and rear heads of the cylinder.

The relation of the piston 62, piston rod 63 and toggle mechanism to each other and tothe cylinder 59, is such that when the piston is at the forward end of its stroke the toggle links 14 and 14 will be maintained in nearly a straight line with the pivot 86 positioned substantially in or a relatively short distance beyond the vertical plane passing through the pivots l5 and 16 as In other words, when the piston 62 is at the forward end of its stroke the arms 16 will be maintained in their lowermost position with the toggle links 14 arranged slightly past dead center for locking said arms in said position against upward movement. When the piston 62 is moved rearwardly it is obvious that the toggle mechanisms will rock rearwardly about the pivots 15 while the frame will rock about the pivot 69 thereby producing an upward swinging movement of the connecting rod 63, lower links 54' and rock arms ill until said members assume the positions illustrated by broken lines in Figure 9.

This vertical rocking movement of the arms 16 is utilized to produce a corresponding vertical rocking movement of the pressure head 46 and for this purpose the arms '56 are connected with the head 46 by means of a pair of connecting bars 85'. These bars 85 extend upwardly from the interior: of. the base m through suitable apertures provided in the bed plate 9 and have their upper ends pivotally connected as at 86 to a respective arm 46 of the pressure head 46. The lower ends of the bars 85' are provided with a threaded rod 8'! which extends through a vertically disposed slot 88* provided in the outer or forward end of a corresponding rock arm 16. Each rod 81 is adjustably secured to the corresponding rock arm iii by nuts 69 screw threaded on said rod at either side of the rock arm.

It will now be understood that the vertical swinging movement ofthe head 46 produced by the arms 10 through the medium of the connecting'bars 85 is suificient to move thebearing block and bearing member 4'! a considerable distance above the pressure roller 44 and the bearing surfaces 3? on the arm 31 as shown by broken lines in Figure 9 and that when the head 46 is in the raised position the arm 3'! together with the master roller I carried thereby is free to move upwardly to bring the roller out of cooperative relation with the lower rollers 2 and 3 for releasing the work contained therebetween.

The mechanism for raising the master roller I and arm 37' comprises a pair of springs 92 beneath the arm 31.

mounted on respective vertically disposed guide rods 93 which are supported at their lower ends in a bracket 94 secured to the rear bracket 8 The rods 93 extend upwardlyfrom the bracket 94 through respective apertures 95 provided in the arm 31 to a position some distanceabove the arm. The rods 93 have a free sliding movement in the arm apertures 95 to permit the necessary swinging movement of the arm. Each spring 92 is positioned between the arm 31 and a nut 96 screwthreaded' on the lower end of a respective rod 93 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. the springs 92 maybe readily tensioned as desired by the manipulation of the nuts 96 and the nuts 96 may be secured in the adjusted position by any suitable means such as the lock nuts 91.

A stop bar 99 is provided for limiting the upward swinging movement of the arm. 31. This stop bar is secured by a screw I at its lower end to a rearwardly extending lug I0l provided on the rearwardly positioned bracket 8. The upper end of the stop bar 99 is provided with a lateral extension or head I02 which extends over the adjacent portion of. the arm' 31 in spaced relation thereto when the arm is in its normal lowermost position. The stop bar 99 is preferably constructed with a definite length adapted to permit sufficient swinging'movement of the .arm 31 to free the work contained betweenthe master roller I and the lower rollers 2 and 3 and at the same time maintain the drive gears 49 and -I for the shaft 4 in meshing engagement and if it becomes necessary to alter the path of travel of the arm 31 due to a change in the diameter of the master roller and the drive gears therefor,. the stop bar 99 is preferably replaced by another stop bar of required construction although it is obvious the one stop bar may be utilized for all working conditions'by making the same adjustable.

The upward swinging movement of the arm 31 and master roller I is not only utilized to re lease the work but to'also permit the passage of an ejector arm between 1 the master roller and the lower rollers 2 and 3 for removing the fin-' ished work from between the rollers.

' This ejector arm. I04 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a relatively narrow arcuate portion I05 conforming somewhat 'to the'contour of the master roller I and adapted to freely pass through the space between the master roller I and the lower rollers 2 and 3 when the master roller is in the raised or inoperative position. The other or outer end portion of the ejector arm is provided with a relatively large head portion I06 having opposed recesses .I01 and I03 for slidably receiving respective horizontally disposed track bars I09 and I I0. These track bars are arranged in parallel relation at the rear side of the bending rollers I, 2 and 3 and are mounted in a pair of longitudinally spaced U-shaped brackets I II secured to the bed plate 9. The ejector arm I04 is normally maintained at its innermost position with the portion I05 thereof extending over the It will thus be seen that buffer rings I I5 at either end thereof adapted to be contacted by the piston II2 for limiting the movement of said piston in either direction. 7

The piston I I2 is connected with the ejector roller .44 and deposit the same onto a chute I20 secured in any suitable manner to the forward end of the machine in operative alignment with the shaft 4 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6.

It will now be readily understood that the'pressure head and ejector arm are both actuated through the medium of a respective piston mounted in a corresponding cylinder and it will be obvious that the pressure means for actuating the pistons may be a plus or minus pressure; that. is, the pressure may be above or below atmospheric. gaseous or a liquid substance as a pressure agent.

However, I preferably utilize air above atmos- Furthermore, I may utilize either a pheric pressure for the pressure agent and the incorporate 'a manually operated control valvewhich may be actuated by a slight physical effort for .effecting'the commencement of the operation of the power means and three automatic control valves, one automatic safety valve for' each cylinder and'an automatic reversing valve for each cylinder; The manually operated control valve as I22 and the automatic control valves as I23, I24 and I25 are of the normally closed bleeder type and may be of any well known'construction not believed to be herein necessary to illustrate or describe in detail. The safety valves as" I26 and I21 are also of well known construction and are adapted to normally remain inthe closed position.

One of the automatic control valves as I23 is mounted adjacent the head operating cylinder 59 to be actuated at a predetermined position of the piston 62 for a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear. This valve as shown more clearly in Figure 12 is mounted on a bracket I35 secured to the base I0 beneath the cylinder '59. The stem I23 of the valve is arranged in the path of movement of rock arm I36 pivotally spring I38 mounted upon guide pins with one end thereof in engagement with the arm and the other end engaging the bracket I35. 7

A slide bar I40 is mounted in the upper portion of the bracket I35 above the arm I36 and has one end thereof connected by a link I4I to a bracket I42 which in turn is secured to the rock frame 61. is provided with a valve actuator which in this instance comprises a rock arm I43 pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the slide I40 as at I43. The. arm I43 is yieldingly maintained in The other or rear end of the slide I40 an upright vertical position against a shoulder I40 provided on the slide I40 by a spring I44 connected with the upper end of the arm and with the slide. The lower end of the arm extends downwardly from the slide over the arm I36 .for engagement with an inclined or cam surface I36 provided near the rear end of the arm for depressing said arm against the action of the spring I38 and thereby actuate the valve stem I23 downwardly for opening the control valve I23.

Another one of the automatic control valves as I24 is mounted upon the bed plate 9 beneath the ejector arm I04 when said arm is in .the normal innermost position as shown more clearly in Figure 2. A rock arm I46 is mounted over the valve I24 and has one end thereof pivotally connected as at I41 to a bracket I48 which in turn is mounted on the bed plate 9. The arm I46 has the outer or free end thereof positioned over the valve stem I24 of the valve I24 and normally maintained in slightly spaced relation thereto by a spring 149 mounted upon guide pins between the arm I46 and bed plate 9. cured to the bed plate 9 limits the upward movement of the arm I46.

A valve actuator in the form of a rock arm I52 is secured to the ejector head I06 as at I53 and is yieldingly maintained in a normally vertical position against a shoulder I54 provided on the head I06 by a spring I55 secured at one end to the arm and at the other end to a rod I56 secured to the'head. The lower end of the arm I 52 is normally positioned a slight distance ahead of the free arm I46 and extends downwardly a relatively short distance below the plane of theupper edge of said arm so that when the ejector is moved outwardly the actuator arm I52 will rock about the pivot I53 against the action of the spring I55 and pass over the arm I46 with- 40 out depressing said arm against the action of the spring I 49. However, when the ejector arm is moved inwardly the actuator arm I52 engages an inclined or cam face I46 provided on the upper edge of arm I46 and depresses said arm 45 and the valve stem I24 for opening the valve The remaining automatic control valve as I25 as shown in Figure 2 is mounted in this instance upon the inner head II3 of the cylinder H3 and 50 has the valve stem I25 thereof positioned in the path of movement of a valve actuator I58 also mounted on the ejector head I06. This valve actuator I58 is in the form of a screw which is screw threaded in an upwardly extending pro- 55 jection I06 provided on the head I06 and is locked in the adjusted position by a lock nut I59.

The valve actuator I58 is so related to the valve I25 and the ejector head I06 that when the ejector is in its outermost position the actuator I58 60 will engage the stem I25 and open the valve I25.

One of the automatic safety valves as I26 is secured to a bracket I6I mounted on one of the supporting brackets 4| for the pressure head 46 with the stem I26 thereof in the path of move- 65 ment of the head 46 to be engaged thereby when said head is in its uppermost position to effect the opening of the valve I26; see Figure 9.

The other automatic safety valve as I21 is mounted on a bracket I64 secured to the track 70 bar IIU adjacent the inner end thereof and as the valve stem I21 thereof positioned in the path of movement of a cam face I65 provided on the outer vertical face of the ejector head I06 as shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4 so that 75 when the ejector is in its normal innermost po- A stop bar I50 seend of the casing chamber sition, .the valve stem I 21 will :be depressed by the .cam face I65 for maintaining the valve I21 in the open position.

.The hereinbefore mentioned automatic revers.

ing valves I28 and I29 may be constructed in any suitable manner and as shown more par.-

.ticularly in Figure 15, they are each of the slidingnpiston type and comprise a chambered case 561 having an inlet port I68, two supply ports LIBS and an exhaust port I10 arranged in axially spaced relation in the body of the case. There is also provided a control port "I in each head of the valve adapted .to be connected to a respective control valve. The piston as I13 :has a close sliding fit in the case I61 and is provided with an axially disposed channel I14 which is connected by a passage-way I15 with the inlet port I69. The channel I14 also is provided with a pair of axially spaced passages I16 adapted to alternately register with the supply ports I69 as the piston is moved from one extreme position in the case I61 to the other. The channel I14 of the piston is also connected with either I61 by relatively small bleed passages I18. The piston is also provided with a second channel I11 which is in permanent registration with the exhaust port I19 and is adapted to alternately engage with the supply ports I69 as the piston is moved 1ongitudinally through the case I61.

Operation as a pressure pump, not shown, by means of an? air conduit I80. The supply'ports I69 of the reversing valve I29 are connected by conduits I8I and I82 with respective ends of the cylinder 59 while the supply ports I69 in the other reversing valve I28 are connected with respective ends of the cylinder I I3 by conduits I83 and I84. The

conduit I82 for the reversing valve I29 has incorporated therein the safety valve I21 while the conduit I83 for the reversing valve I28 has incorporated therein the other safety valve I26.

One of the control ports I1I of the reversing valve I29 is connected by a conduit I86 with the manually operated control valve I22 and the other control port I1I of said reversing valve is connected by a conduit I81 to the automatic control valve I24. The reversing valve I28 has one control port I1I thereof connected to the automatic control valve I25 by a conduit I88 and the other control portof said valve is connected to the automatic control valve I23 by a conduit I39 It will now be observed that when the machine is in the normal position with the pressure head'46 in the operative position for maintaining the'master roller I in. cooperative relation With the bending rollers 2 and 3 and with the ejector I04 at its normal innermost position all of the control'valves I22, I23, I24, I25 and I26 will be in the closed pO-sitiOn while the control valve I21 will be maintained in the open position by the engagement therewith'of the ejector head I06 inthe manner hereinbefore described.

After a piece of work has been passed between the master roller I and the lower bending rollers 2' and 3 to form the same in a circle or an arc thereof the pressure head 46 may be moved up- 'wardly for releasing the master roll by a slight 7 manual pressure upon the handle as I22 for the 'posite end of the cylinder.

' mosphere through the exhaust port I10.

Inasmuch as the valve I21'is maintained in the open position pressure from the conduit I80 will thus pass through the conduit I82 to the forward end of the cylinder 59 thereby causing the piston 62 contained in said cylinder to move to the op- As the piston is thus moved through the cylinder the arms will be rockedupwardly by the action of the toggle mechanism'connecting said arms with the piston rod 63 thereby moving the pressure head 46 from the operative position shown by full lines in Figure 9 to the inoperative position indicated-by broken lines in said figure.

As the piston 62 approaches the outer end of the cylinder 59 the valve actuator I43 will effect the opening of the control valve I23 so that the end of the reversing valve I28 connected with the conduit I89 will be connected with the atmosphere and the piston contained in said valve will be moved toward the conduit I89th'ereby connecting the conduit I83 withthe supply conduit I80. 7 7 It will now be observed that inasmuch as the head 46 is in the uppermost position the valve I26 will be maintained thereby in the open position and pressure will be supplied by the conduit I83 to the forward end of the'ejector cylinder H3. The pressure thus applied to the ejector cylinder will move the piston therein to the rear end of said cylinder and thus cause the ejector arm I04 to move outwardly and in so doing will engage the work positioned on the master roller I and eject the same from the machine onto the chute I20 or other suitable conveying means which may be associated with the machine.

During the initial movement of the ejector I04 the valve I21 will be permitted to close thereby shutting off communication of the forward end of the cylinder 59 with the supply conduit I80 and maintain a constant pressure within the cylinder 59 for maintaining the piston at the rear end of said cylinder and thus prevent the accidental inward movement of the piston. As th'e ejector I04 approaches the limit of'its'forward movement the valve actuator I58 will open the control valve I25 and thereby connect the end of the throttle valve I28 associated with the conduit I88 ,withthe atmosphere so that the piston contained in said valve will be moved toward the conduit I88 and will thereby connect the conduit I84 and the rear end ofthe cylinder I13 with the supply conduit I80 while the other conduit I83 and forward end of the cylinder II3 will be connected to the atmosphere;

' The pressure thus reversed in the ejector cylinder I I3 will cause thepiston contained therein to move forwardly until the ejector I04 is again returned. to its normal innermost position. As the ejector approaches its innermost position, the valve I 21 will'again be opened for operatively connecting the forwarde'nd of the cylinder 592M511 the reversing tvalve I 29. Also, the valve actuator I52 carried by the ejector will open the con:

trol valve I 24v and thereby reverse the; position of the piston contained in the reversing valve l29 which in turn will connect the rear end of the cylinder 59 with the supply conduit I80 so that the piston contained in the cylinder 59 will be moved forwardly and return the pressure head 46 to its lowermost operative position. As the head 46 is thus brought to theoperative position, the valve I26 will be permitted to close, thus returning the mechanism to the original positioniand completeing one cycle of operation of the poweroperating means. v

It will be obvious that these cycles of operation, may be repeated as often as desired by the operator simply opening the control valve I22. Furthermore, it will be observed'that these successive movements of operation will be automatically produced and must be performed in predetermined order due to the co-action between the pressure head 46 and thecontrol valve I26 and the ejector -I04' with the control valves ;I24,- I25 and I21.

In order that the speed of operation of the pistons 62 and H2 and the mechanism actuated thereby may be controlled, I preferably employ a plurality of metering valves I30 mounted in'the conduits IN and I82 and I3I mounted in the conduits I83 and I84. I

Also, I preferably provide a manually operated control valve as I32 in the conduit I81 which together with the valve I22 enables the operation of the piston 62 and pressure head 45 to be manually controlled independently of the operation of the ejector operating means. I have illustrated at I33 a three-way valve adapted to be manually operated to close the supply conduit I80 leading to the throttle valve I28 and to connect said throttle valve with the atmosphere so that the ejector may be entirely shut off from the fluid 7 pressure when it is desired to operate the-pressure head only.

When the pressure head 46 is to be operatedindependently of the ejector operating means, it will 7 throttlevalve I29 will be actuated in the manner.

hereinbefore described to connect the conduit I82 and the forward end of the cylinder 59 with the fluid pressure and at the same time connect the rear end'of the cylinder 59 and conduitIBI with the atmosphere, thereby permitting the unequal pressure produced in the cylinder 59 to effect the inward movement of the-piston 26 mounted therein, thus causing an upward rocking move- .ment of the arm 10 to bringthe head 46 to the raised position. When it is again desired to return the head 46'to its lowermost operative position, the valve I32 may be manually opened which will effect the movement of the piston in the throttlevalve I 29 andreverse the pressure in the cylinder 59 andthus cause the piston contained in said cylinder to move forwardly andrestore the head 46 to its lowermost position in r the manner hereinbefore described.

The work stock is fed to the rollers I, 2 and 3.

.in predetermined relation therewith by the aid of an adjustable table I92. This table comprises a supporting frame I93 which is slidably mounted for vertical movement in a U-shaped plate I94 secured by screws or other means to each of the bearing brackets B. The frame I93 is maintained in operative relation with the plate by gibs I95 secured to the outer face of the side members of the plate I94, as shown in Figures 1 and 9. The frame I93 is maintained in the adjusted vertical position by a screw I93 screw threaded in the lower portion of the frame with the end thereof engaging the adjacent portion of the bed plate 9. The screw I96 may be locked in the adjusted position by a lock nut I91.

To the upper face of the frame I93 is slidably mounted a base plate I98 which is clamped to the frame by the screw IQQ which passes through an elongated slot provided in the base plate and is screw threaded in the frame I93. The inner end of the base plate I98 is provided with an upwardly extending lug I93 in which is mounted a pivotal shaft 2% which extends outwardly at both ends beyond the lug I98 and has rotatably mounted thereon a delivery chute 282. The delivery chute 2Il2 is a channel member having the inner end thereof provided with pendant lugs 20? adapted to support the shaft 286 thereon.

The rear or outer end portion of the chute is provided with a pair of pendant spaced lugs 292" to which is rotatably connected a block 263 having a central opening in which is rotatably mounted the reduced end of a screw 2%. The screw 294 extends downwardly from the block 293 and has the lower end portion thereof screw threaded in a block 265 which is rotatably connected at its ends to a pair of outwardly extending lugs 206 provided on the base plate I98. The lower end of the screw 2% is provided with a hand wheel 2M by which the screw may be manually manipulated. The chute 2b? is also provided with a pair of stock guide plates 288. These plates are as shown in Figure 11, angular members which are adjustably secured to the bottom of the chute 2 22 by bolts 2&9 which pass through holes ZID provided in the chute. These holes 2I9 are arranged in transverse spaced relation to permit the guide plates to be adjusted tward and from each other for different widths of stock.

When setting the table I92 for feeding work stock of a predetermined size to the bending rollers I, 2 and 3, the guide plates 2538 are adjusted to extend normally to the axis of movement of the rollers and are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the work stock so as to permit a relatively close sliding fit of the stock therebetween; the chute 202 is adjusted vertically and horizontally by the manipulation of the screws I96 and Iiiil and the angular inclination of the chute is adjusted by the manipulation of the screw 2% so as to bring the chute in such a position that the work stock when resting flatly upon the chute 292 with the lower or inner end thereof engaging the adjacent roller 3, said stock will also contact with the master roller I. It will thus be seen that the work stock has three points of contact, one at the inner end thereof where it engages the roller 3, two in spaced relation to said end where it engages the inner end of the chute 202 and three at an intermediate position where it contacts with the periphery of the roller I. Furthermore, as soon as the bending rollers begin to draw the work stock inwardly therebetween, the bending operation of the" stock will commence and will continue until theistock has passed beyond the contact points between the rollers I and 3 so that a uniform curvature of the stock is produced throughout the entire length thereof and thereby eliminates the flat spots which often occur adjacent the ends of the stock and the separate operation necessary to either bend these flat portions to conform with the remainder of the work or to cut the same therefrom.

During the initial adjusting of the machine for operation upon a specific class of work,it is to be understood that the master roller I is adjusted relatively to the lower rollers 2 and 3, in such a manner that the points of tangency of said rollers will be spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the Work. Furthermore, during the adjustment of the table the lower end of said table is spaced from the adjacent portion of the periphery of the master roller 1 a distance at least greater than the thickness of the stock so that if the work is elongated slightly as it passes between the rollers I, 2 and 3, due to the metal being of an exceptionally soft nature, and the forward end of the Work is thereby brought into over-lapping relation with the rear end of the work before the work passes beyond the chute the work will not become jammed between the chute and the master roller I.

It will now be understood, by referring to Figure 14:, that as the rollers I, 2 and 3 draw the work inwardly therebetween the Work will be engaged at four points of contact to effect the bending thereof, one at a, the point of tangency between rollers I and 2, another at b, the point of tangency between rollers I and 3, another point at c, a position on the periphery of the roller, one intermediate the points a and b, and another point at d, the inner end edge of the chute 202. In order to prevent excessive wear of said chute the inner, end thereof is preferably provided with a hard ened Wear plate 2! I. Furthermore, due to this pressure engagement of the work stock with the inner end of the chute the rear end of the stock as it passes beyond the inner end of the chute will produce a slight sound which is a signal for the operator that the bending operation is nearly completed and that he may then manipulate the valve I22 to commence the operation of the power means for ejecting the work from the machine,

When the work stock is of such a nature as to prevent the proper bending of the same by one passage thereof between the'rollers I, 2 and 3, I have provided a simple control means by which the stock may be again passed between the rollers without removing the stock from operative relation with the rollers. This means, as shown in Figure 9, comprises an adjustable stop block 2I2 which is slidably mounted in a guide head 2 I3 secured to the bed plate 9 and the supporting brackets '1. The guide head 2I3 comprises a substantially flat surface 2M arranged in the path of movement of the upper end of the rock frame 61 and is inclined from the upper end thereof downwardly toward said frame.

The stop block ZIZ has a surface thereof inclined similarly to surface 2M so that when the I block is moved downwardly along said surface the rear edge of the block will be brought into the path of movement of the upper end of the frame S'I and prevent said frame from moving to the normal foremost position of its stroke. In other Words, when the stop block H2 is in its lowermost position, the rock frame 61 will be maintained therebyin anintermediateposition slightly rearwardly of its foremost position so that the arms 10 will be'maintained through the action of the toggle mechanism I3 in an intermediate position slightly above the lowermost position thereof and the heads 46 connected with said arms will also be maintained in a similar intermediate position and will permit the master roller I to be spaced a distance greater than the thickness of the material from the lower rollers 2 and 3 and thus produce only a partial bending of the work stock as said stock passes therebetween. stock has completely passed between the rollers I, 2 and 3 the block 2 I2 is moved upwardly out of engagement with the rock frame 61 to permit said rock frame and the toggle mechanism' I3 connected therewith to be moved forwardly to the normal operative position by the action of the pressure in the cylinder 59 upon the piston 62 and thereby bring the arms I and the head 46 to their lowermost operative position for maintaining the master roller I in the normal operative position relative to the rollers 2 and 3 to produce the final bending of the work. r

The means for manipulating the stop block 2 I2 in this instance comprises a lever 2I6 which is pivotally connected to the supporting brackets 51, by a pin 2II which passes through the lever a relatively short distance from the inner end thereof. The inner end of the lever is op,- eratively connected with the stop block 2I2 by a link 2I8. The lever extends outwardly from the pivot 211 through a slot 2I9 provided in the phase II) and has the outer end thereof provided with a handle 220' by which the lever may be manually manipulated. A spring MI is connected with the inner end portion of the lever and with the guide head 2I3 as shown in Figure 9 for normally urging the stop block downwardly into its operative position. A stop screw as 222 associated with the bed plate 9 may as shown be'utilized for limiting the upward movement of the stop block 2I2.

When it is desired to maintain the stop block 2I2 in its inoperative position out of the path of movement of the rock' frame 61, this is readily accomplished by means'of a pin 224 which is passed through a suitable opening provided in the lever outside the base III and into engagement with a bracket 225 secured to the adjacent portion of the base III.

In Figure 5, I have shown a slightly modified form of ejector which comprise in providing the ejector head as I06" with a relatively short ejector arm I. This arm is adjustably secured to the head I86" by bolts and slots as indicated at 228 and is adapted to engage the work at one side of the master roller I to eject the same instead of beneath said roller as is the. case with the ejector I04. 1'

70 convenient place adjacent the forming rollers I,

2 .and 3 and as shown in Figure 14 is arranged with the valve stem as 230 thereof adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the work as said end leaves the table 202 to automatically opensaid ;,75 valve and thereby effect the beginning of opera- As soon as the,

In Figure 16 I have illustrated an automatic 2 Although I have shown and particularly de-' scribed the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the exactconstruction shown as various changes may readily be made both in the form and relation of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: r

, 1. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, pressure means for maintaining the rollers in cooperative relation, manually controlled power means associated with the pressure means for rendering the latter inoperative, means for automatically producing relative movement of the rollers to release the metal, and an additional 7 means for automatically ejecting the metal from the rollers when the pressure head is in the inoperative position.

3. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, means for releasably maintaining the rollers in cooperative spaced relation, and additional means for intermittently producing relative movement of the rollers toward each other to progressively reduce said spaced relation of the rollers during the bending operation.

4. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, power actuated means for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperative spaced relation, and manually operated means cooperating with the power actuating means for progressively reducing said spaced relation of the rollers during the bending operation.

5. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, a

pressure head movable into cooperative relation with the rollers for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperative spaced relation, power means controlled by a slight physical effort for actuating the pressure head, and manually operated means associated with the power means for limiting the movement thereof whereby the spaced relation of the rollers may be altered during the bending ope-ration.

6. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, power, means for releasably maintaining the rollers in cooperative relation comprising a pressure head associated with the rollers, fluid'pressure operating means connected with the head for moving the same from an inoperative position to an operative position in holding relation with the rollers, and manually operated means for controlling the operation of the fluid pressure means.

'7. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, powermeans for releasably maintaining the rollers in the same from an inoperative position to an operative position in holding relation with the rollers, manually operated means for controlling the operation of. the fluid pressure means, and means for automatically. controlling the speed of opera tion of the fluid pressure operating means.

8.v In a metal .bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal,,power means for releasably maintaining the rollers in cooperative relation comprising a pressure head associated with the rollers, fluid pressure operating means connected with the head for moving the same into and out of cooperative relation with said rollers, means for automatically producing relative movement of the rollers when 5 the head is in the inoperative position to release metal contained therebetween, and manually operated-means for controlling the operation of the fluid pressure means.

9. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, power means for releasably maintaining the rollers in cooperative relation comprising a pressure head associated with the rollers, fluid pressure operating means connected with the head for moving the same into and out of cooperative relation with said rollers, means for automatically producing relative movement of the rollers when the head is in the inoperative position to release metal contained therebetween, manually operated means for controlling the operation of the fluid pressure means, and a second power means controlled by a movable member of the first mentioned power means for automatically ejecting the metal from the rollers when said metal is released by the rollers.

10. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, a holding member movable into and out of cooperative relation with the rollers, and power 40 operating means connected with the holding member for actuating the same, said operating means including means for releasably locking said member against movement by-pressure produced thereon by the rollers during the operation of said rollers.

11. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollersfor feeding and bending said metal, a holding member movable into and out of oooperative relation with the rollers for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperative relation with each other, fluid pressure operating means, and means connecting the operating means with said holding member including a toggle mechanism adapted to releasably lock the holding member inoperativerelation with the rollers.

12. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, roller holding means, fluid pressure operating means for moving the holding means into and out of 0 cooperative relation with the rollers for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperative relation with each other, an ejector member, a second fluid pressure operating means for actuating said ejector member to move the metal 65 from the rollers, control means connected with the first mentioned fluid operating means and manually operated by a slight physical effort to efiect the movement of the roller holding means out of cooperative relation with said rollers, a

70 second control means connected with the second mentioned fluid pressure means and actuated at a predetermined position of the holding means for automatically effecting the operation of the ejector means, and a third control means con- 75 nected with the first mentioned fluid pressure operatingmeans and actuated at a predetermined position of the. ejector member for efiecting the return of the holding means into operative relation with the rollers.

13. In.v a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, a feed table mounted adjacent said rollers in cooperative relation therewith for bending the metal, andv power means for producing relative movement of certain: of the rollers and the remaining rollers and the'table to release the bent met'aLand means forautomatically ejecting the released metal from operative relation with the rollersand table.

l4.v In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, pressure means. for maintaining the rollers in cooperative relation with each other, power means associated with the pressure means for rendering the latter inoperative, and means for automatically producing relative movement of the rollers to release the metal.

15. In a metal bending machine, cooperative .rollers for feeding and bending said metal, pressure means for maintaining the rollers in cooperative. relation with each other, power means associated with the pressure means and controlled by'the metal at a predetermined position of-said metal for rendering the latter inoperative, and" means for automatically producing relative movement of the rollers to release the metal.

16; In a'metal bending machine, metal feeding and bending rollers, power means for rotating said rollers in unison, and separate power operated means set into operation by the metal at a predetermined position of said metal for automatically producing relative movement of said rollers to bring them out of cooperative relation with each other.

17'. In a metal bending machine, metal feedingand bending rollers, power means for rotating said rollers in unison, and separate power operated means including acontrol element arranged in the path of the metal and set into operation by action of the metal thereon at a predetermined position of said metal for automatically producing relative movement of said rollers to bring, them out of cooperative relation with each other and for ejecting the bent metal when said rollers are out of cooperative relation.

18. In a metal bending machine, metal feeding and bending rollers, a pressure head pivotally'mounte'd'at one side of the rollers for swinging movement into and out of cooperative relation witlrthe rollers for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperative relation with each other, power means for maintaining the head in cooperative relation with the rollers and adapted to be operated at a predetermined position of the metal for swinging said head out of cooperative relation with the rollers, and separate means set into operation as the head is moved to the inoperative position for producing relative movement of the rollers to release the metal.

19. In a metal bending machine, metal feeding and bending rollers, a pressure head pivotally mounted at one side of the rollers for swinging movement into and out of cooperative relation with the rollers for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperative relation with each other, power means for maintaining the head in cooperative relation with the rollers and adapted to be actuated by the metal at a predetermined rate means set into operation as the head is moved to the inoperative position for producing relative movement of the rollers to release the metal.

20. In a metal bending machine, metal feeding and bending rollers,.a pressure head pivotally mounted at one side of the rollers for swinging movement into and out of cooperative relation with the rollers for releasably maintaining said rollers in cooperativerelation with each other,- power means for maintaining the head in cooperative relation with the rollers and adapted to be operated atv a predetermined position of the metal for swinging said head out ofcooperative relation with the rollers, separate means set into operation as the head is moved to the inoperative position, for producing relative movement of the rollers to release the metal, and means controlled by the head when said head is out of cooperative relation with the rollers for ejecting the released metal.

21. In a metal bending machine having cooperative feeding and bending rollers arranged with the peripheral surfaces thereof inparallel relation with each other, power means for rotating the rollers in unison, separate power operated means for producing relative movement of the rollers indirections substantially normal to said surfaces to bring them into and out of cooperative relation with each other, and a second power operated means controlled by the action of the first mentioned power operated means when the rollers are in inoperative position for automatically moving the bent metal longitudinally of the rollers to eject the same from said rollers.

22. In a metal bending machine having 00- operative feeding and bending rollersarranged with the peripheral surfaces thereof in parallel relation with each other, power means for rotating the rollers in unison, separate power operated means for producing relative movement of the rollers in directions substantially normal to said surfaces to bring them into and out of co operative relation with each other, an ejectorelement movable axially of the rollers and a second power operated means adapted to operate the ejector element when the rollers are in 'the inoperative position to discharge the bent metal from said rollers.

23. In a metal bending machine having cooperative feeding and bending rollers arranged to rotate about parallel axes, a pressure element for maintaining the rollers in cooperative relation with each other, fluid pressure means ineluding a toggle mechanism for 'moving'the pressure element into and out of operative relation with the rollers, and means for yieldingly urging the rollers in a direction to release the metal from therebetween.

24. A device as in claim 23 having additional fluid pressure operated means adapted to be controlled at a predetermined position of the pressure .element for ejecting the bent metal from the rollers.

25. A device as in claim 8 having means for automatically controlling the speed of operation of the fluid pressure operated means.

26. In a metal bending machine, cooperative rollers for feeding and bending said metal, roller holding means, power operated means for moving the holding means in opposite directions to bring the same into and out of holding relation with the rollers for releasablymaintaining said rollers in cooperative relation with each other, an ejector member, a second power operated means for actuating the ejector member to move the metal from the rollers, control means connected with the first mentioned power operated means and manually operated by a slight physical effort to effect movement of the roller holding means in one of said directions, a second control means connected with the second mentioned power operated meansand actuated at a predetermined position of the holding means' for nism for ejecting the released metal, control i means including a manually operated member 7 associated 'with one of said power operated means for effecting the operation thereof, and a second control means connected with the second power operated means and. actuated at a predetermined position of the manually controlled power operated means for automatically effecting the operation of said second power operated means.

WILLIAM E. KANE. 

